TGFC - Hall of Fame Members - Class of 1992
Class of 1992 - Biographies
Robert Flanders, 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: 1932 Graduate of Central High School, Akron…Earned nine varsity letters in basketball (4) football (3) track (2)…Honorable Mention All-State, All-City and captain 2 years in Basketball…KSU CAREER: Earned eight varsity letters, in basketball (3) football (3) track (2)…Two time All-Ohio performer in basketball and captain in senior year…Played several basketball games wearing shoulder pads due to injury suffered in football…All 3rd & 6th Air Force…POST KSU CAREER: Received his degree in Social Studies and Physical Education in 1937 and a Master’s Degree in Administration in 1951…PERSONAL: Born May 2, 1914 in Akron, Ohio…Served six years in the U.S. Air Force, two years of which was in the S.W. Pacific where he earned five Bronze Stars…Served 18 years in the Air Force Reserve retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel…Began his teaching & coaching career at Mogadore High in 1939, where he served as assistant principal as well as coaching of the basketball, football, and baseball team…Coached basketball at Canton Lincoln High School (1951-56) and was also an assistant football coach…Served as Principal at Perry High ’54-’64 and concluded his career as Principal at Norton High, 1964-1975…Member of Summit County Hall of Fame…He and his wife, Helen have three children; Leslie Ann, Jeffrey, and John…He enjoys playing golf and bridge.
Mark Gilliam, 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: A 1980 graduate of Toledo’s Start High in Toledo, Ohio…Earned eight varsity letters in gymnastics (4), track & field (2), and soccer (2)…Was a member of state and national team tumbling and trampoline champions, 1974-78…Member of the United States tumbling teams which traveled to Africa in 1977 and Australia in 1978…KENT CAREER: Four-time letterman for the Flashes in gymnastics under former head coach Terry Nesbitt…Captured individual titles in the floor exercise (1983 & 1985) and vault (1985) at the Great Lakes League Championships…Helped Kent to team titles in 1981 & 83 we all…Placed 5th at the 1983 NCAA Gymnastics Championships and was named All-America…Was team floor exercise award winner in 1983 & 85…Was the NCAA’s top ranked floor exercise performer (based on average score) in 1985…Set Kent records in floor exercise (9.85)…POST KSU CAREER: Continues to perform as a member of the Bud Light Daredevils Slam Dunk Acrobatic Team…PERSONAL: Born in Toledo, Ohio on June 21, 1962…Brothers Mike and Matt are also former Kent athletes, Mike is a former Kent gymnast who also excelled in the floor exercise and vault and it a member of the Bud Light Daredevils…Matt was a former member of the Golden Flash football team.
Gene Glass, 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Graduate of Newton Falls High School…KENT CAREER: Four year letter winner in wrestling…Captain 1947…In 1946 he placed 4th in the National Collegiate Championships and was named All-America…Finished third in the National A.A.U. also in 1946…In 1947 he was selected to N.E.O. A.A.U. and National Junior A.A.U. Champion…Graduated in 1948…POST KSU CAREER: In 1950 & 51 he was All-Southern A.A.U. Champion representing the new Orleans Athletic Club and won the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler Award…While in the service in 1942 he walked off with the Georgia Championship…PERSONAL: Gene was a person of great industry, commitment, and faithfulness to his friends…After serving in Korea he returned to the States and was killed on January 15, 1954, at the age of 32, in a training accident while flying in Jacksonville, Florida…Born in Newton Falls, Ohio.
Thomas Jefferson, 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Graduated from Cleveland’s John Marshall High School in 1980 after earning five varsity letters in track (3) and basketball (2)…Captained the basketball as a senior…Named to the All-West Sun first team in track as a senior…KSU CAREER: Lettered eight times, four each indoor and outdoor, for the Golden Flash track teams…Three-time Mid-American conference 200 meter dash champion (outdoor), 1983-85…Set MAC record with a :20.43 clocking in 1984…Also captured three conference titles in the 100 meter dash (1982, 1984-85) and set the MAC mark with a :10.25 in 1984…Qualified for NCAA Championships both indoor and outdoor…Set Kent indoor record in the 55 meter dash (:06.15) and 300 meters (:33.79) along with outdoor marks in the 100 meter dash (:10.1, hand timed), 200 meters (:20.26), 4x100 relay team (:40.9) and 4x200 relay team (1:25.2)…Member of the 1982 United States Olympic Team in Los Angeles, California…Won a medal in the 200 meter dash to complete a U.S. sweep of that event…Named “Outstanding Performer” at the 1984 and 1985 Mid-American Conference Championship meets…POST KSU CAREER: Continues to compete at the national and international levels…Has served as an assistant coach under his former mentor, and fellow Varsity “K” Hall of Famer, Orin Richburg at the University of Washington…PERSONAL: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 6, 1962…Is married to the former Vickie Porter of Elyria, Ohio.
Joe Tabor(sky), 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Graduated from Kent State High School in 1932…Lettered in football, wrestling, and baseball…KSU CAREER: Earned eight letters, football (3), wrestling (3), and baseball (2)…In 1933 he won the Tri-State Wrestling Championships…1934 he placed 2nd in the National A.A.U. Tournament…Received Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1936…POST KSU CAREER: Taught Industrial Arts and coached at Rootstown and several other high schools until his retirement in 1971…In 1941 he coached wrestling at Kent State until his induction into the Navy in 1942…He served on an oil tanker in the Mid-East as a gunnery officer, achieving the rank of lieutenant, and was discharged in 1945 at which time he resumed his educational career…PERSONAL: Born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 17, 1910, and moved to Kent at age nine…He and wife, Margaret, had one son, Joseph…Joseph Sr. passed away in the Fall of 1971.
Ray Wagner, 1992
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Attended Delaware Valley High School from which he graduated in 1975…No school football program…Won three letters in wrestling…Two time Christmas Tournament Champion…Two time District 12 Champion…Career Record 92-3…Attended Steven’s School of Technology 1975-77…won many open tournaments including the Millersville Championship where Kent coach Ron Gray offered him a wrestling scholarship…Got degree in Graphic Design from S.S. of T…KSU CAREER: Won four varsity letters in wrestling and two in football…MAC heavyweight champion 1979, 80, & 81 in wrestling…All-American heavyweight placing 5th in the NCAA championships…Graduated in 1982…POST KSU CAREER: Signed with Cincinnati Bengals in 1982 as an offensive tackle…Released in final cut in 1984 and signed with USFL’s Denver Gold and played two years…Signed with San Francisco 49er’s in 1986 but released due to knee injury.
